Komatsu is helping a machinery hire business respond to shifting customer demand and the evolving needs of major infrastructure and civil projects.
Established initially as a wet hire operation, HEXhire is shifting its focus as large-scale infrastructure projects are rolled out across its home state of Victoria and demand increases for dry hire solutions.
The company is now giving customers the choice of renting just the equipment, a transition that Managing Director Andrew Harte says has marked a turning point for the business.
“Moving into dry hire allowed us to scale up and target the bigger projects where there’s strong demand for larger machinery,” he said.
“We’re now able to service a broad mix of customers, including major infrastructure and large civil contractors, as well as smaller civil and landscaping companies, with demand evenly spread across the sectors.”
Komatsu has played a role in supporting that growth. HEXhire has been purchasing Komatsu equipment for the past five years and has recently expanded its fleet to include excavators, dozers, loaders, and dump trucks, with a total of more than 20 new and used Komatsu machines.
“As a hire business, we place emphasis on customer feedback when making purchasing decisions, and the feedback on Komatsu machinery has always been good,” Andrew said.
“Combined with the feedback from our mechanics and service team on their strength and durability, that cemented for us that Komatsu is who we want to continue purchasing from.”
Andrew sees technology as a key differentiator in the rental market, with customers responding positively to integrated features on their Komatsu machines, such as GPS and machine control systems.
“It’s important for us to follow brands that evolve with the times and include leading tech in their offering,” he said.
Local support has also been a factor, with Komatsu located close to HEXhire’s Campbellfield base on the outskirts of Melbourne. Responsive service and smooth onboarding have helped embed the machines into the fleet with minimal disruption.
That same level of service now extends to South Australia, where HEXhire is supporting many infrastructure projects in Adelaide, with Komatsu equipment backed by the manufacturer’s service and support team.
Looking ahead, HEXhire plans to further expand its presence in the larger machine categories, particularly in dump trucks and dozers, with Komatsu part of the strategic growth plans.
“With the capital investment involved in machines, you want to partner with a company that stands behind its gear. As we continue to grow, having a strong partner like Komatsu is very important to us,” Andrew said.
